Octagon Tangram Puzzles

What would happen if a tangram was shaped like an Octagon and not the typical square? Octagon shaped tangrams are not official puzzles but it is fun to try to apply the tangram rule to different geometrical shapes to see how many different solutions may be created as a result. The Octagon tangram is not the traditional design but can be easily fitted with the seven distinctive shapes required in the standard puzzle:

Use a variety of shapes to create your personalized tangrams to enjoy discovery of the widest range of possibilities of solutions to the popular Chinese puzzle.

Design an Octagon tangram yourself. The challenge is to divide the shape into exactly 7 sections or tans using the above mentioned shapes.

Tangram puzzles remind me of the mosaics of Pompei and stained glass window designs. My parents loved to make mosaic designs to rerurface old tables. I remember them both cautioning me to stand back while they broke various colored glass bottles that they had collected from a fun, scavaging day at the old county dump to use as pieces for the table design. I learned glass is very sharp but the rewards of a beautiful mosaic design might is worth the incidental nick or two.

Whimsical and Creative Tangrams

When I created these whimsical, non-traditional tangrams, I'd print each design, cut the pieces out and place the pieces in individually marked envelopes.

These envelopes traveled with me to work, the doctors, dentists offices, on the commute train. Anytime I found a few idle moments, I'd arrange and rearrange these tans to find as many solutions as possible.

It became a sure-fire conversation stearter. I introduced tangram into hospital and dental waiting rooms, at the office, in break rooms and restaurants. People would often watch as I'd try many different angles. Occasionally someone would suggest a move, or declare that the design looked like an animal or bird, etc.

Make Tangram Felt-Board games

Find stiff cardboard pieces, about 12" x 12" or larger. Old record album (LP) covers are about the right size and work great for making felt-board play surfaces which children can use to build their own puzzle solutions

Completely cover the square cardboard with a sheet of felt - black, dark blue or green colors provide good contrast to display the puzzle pieces. Affix the felt firmly with glue or tape

Trace a collection of the various traditional tangram shapes onto different, brightly colored felt or foam sheets. Colors to use:

Red

Yellow

Light Green

Light Blue

Pink

Orange

White

If making multiple boards, separate or divide the tans to give each felt board tangram the same number of shapes and sizes in the various colors

Enjoy!

Bring along as travel games to keep the children entertained with educational fun. Share at family get-to-gethers, day care centers and school.

Provide pencils and pads of plain paper so children can keep a diary and re-draw and record the different shapes. Solutions not provided here as the purpose of the tangram puzzle is to encourage creativity.

Materials To Keep On Hand

Paper Trivia: Did you know that you can only fold a sheet of printer paper in half seven times? Give it a try. It doesn't matter how thick or thin the paper is, once you get to the seventh fold, the paper will not bend or budge.

Sun catchers. To create a translucent, stained glass ornaments effect, apply a bit of lemon oil to the back sides of paper ornaments to create a.

Hang the ornaments on trees, in windows, anywhere bright colorful decorations are desired.

Construct a large paper-tree for the wall with shades of green construction paper. Draw a large tree on a sheet of easel pad paper to tack onto a wall or other flat surface, then decorate with paper ornaments.